INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Manning is far more than Peyton’s little brother now.
Spot-on from beginning to end Sunday night, Eli Manning won his second NFL Championship in a four-year span – and second Super Bowl MVP award – for leading the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots.
Manning went 30 for 40 for 296 yards, with one touchdown pass and no interceptions. He opened the game by becoming the first quarterback to complete his first nine attempts in a Super Bowl. And he finished the job by directing the nine-play,
88-yard TD drive that put New York ahead with 57 seconds left.
“That was quite a drive that he was able to put together,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “He deserves all the credit in the world, because he really has put his team on his shoulders all year.”
This late drive, so reminiscent of the way New York beat New England in the 2008 Super Bowl, started on the Giants’ 12, with a little more than 3½ minutes left and the Patriots ahead 17-15. It closed with running back Ahmad Bradshaw easing into the end zone from 6 yards out. The Patriots decided not to contest the run, trying to save some time on the clock for a final drive.
Manning also was the MVP in 2008, when his scoring pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left ended the Patriots’ perfect season.
Congratulations Deon Grant! South Augusta, TW Josey HS and the city of Augusta, GA are celebrating big time this morning...a Super Bowl Champion!!!! So proud of you.
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